CVE-2026-45160: CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read in espressif esp-idf
ESF-IDF is the Espressif Internet of Things (IOT) Development Framework. In versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1, an out-of-bounds read flaw exists in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options() in components/lwip/apps/dhcpserver/dhcpserver.c) shipped with ESP-IDF's lwIP component. The parser walks the BOOTP/DHCP options field without validating that each option's length byte and declared payload length stay within the received packet buffer. A crafted DHCP request can cause the parser to read past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory. The issue affects the DHCP server used by ESP-IDF's SoftAP and any configuration where the device runs as a DHCP server on a local network. This issue has been patched in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2026-45160 describes an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options function) within the lwIP component of Espressif's ESP-IDF framework. In affected versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1, the parser processes DHCP options without verifying that the length fields remain within the packet buffer, allowing crafted DHCP requests to cause reads past the buffer into adjacent heap memory. This affects devices running ESP-IDF as DHCP servers, including SoftAP mode. The issue is resolved in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read in heap memory by sending a specially crafted DHCP request to a device running an affected ESP-IDF version as a DHCP server. While the CVSS score indicates no confidentiality or integrity impact, it results in a high impact on availability (denial of service). There are no known exploits in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in ESP-IDF versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2. Users should upgrade to these or later versions to remediate the vulnerability. No vendor advisory content contradicts this; therefore, upgrading is the recommended mitigation.
CVE-2026-45160: CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read in espressif esp-idf
Description
ESF-IDF is the Espressif Internet of Things (IOT) Development Framework. In versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1, an out-of-bounds read flaw exists in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options() in components/lwip/apps/dhcpserver/dhcpserver.c) shipped with ESP-IDF's lwIP component. The parser walks the BOOTP/DHCP options field without validating that each option's length byte and declared payload length stay within the received packet buffer. A crafted DHCP request can cause the parser to read past the end of the options buffer into adjacent heap memory. The issue affects the DHCP server used by ESP-IDF's SoftAP and any configuration where the device runs as a DHCP server on a local network. This issue has been patched in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
CVSS v3.1
Score 6.5medium
Affected software
pkg:github/espressif/esp-idfRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
CVE-2026-45160 describes an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) in the DHCP server option parser (parse_options function) within the lwIP component of Espressif's ESP-IDF framework. In affected versions 5.2.7, 5.3.5, 5.4.4, 5.5.4, and 6.0.1, the parser processes DHCP options without verifying that the length fields remain within the packet buffer, allowing crafted DHCP requests to cause reads past the buffer into adjacent heap memory. This affects devices running ESP-IDF as DHCP servers, including SoftAP mode. The issue is resolved in versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2.
Potential Impact
The vulnerability allows an attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read in heap memory by sending a specially crafted DHCP request to a device running an affected ESP-IDF version as a DHCP server. While the CVSS score indicates no confidentiality or integrity impact, it results in a high impact on availability (denial of service). There are no known exploits in the wild.
Mitigation Recommendations
A fix is available in ESP-IDF versions 5.2.8, 5.3.6, 5.4.5, 5.5.5, and 6.0.2. Users should upgrade to these or later versions to remediate the vulnerability. No vendor advisory content contradicts this; therefore, upgrading is the recommended mitigation.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- GitHub_M
- Date Reserved
- 2026-05-08T20:44:38.965Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- null
Threat ID: 6a28c09e8dd33fbd85c1ae53
Added to database: 06/10/2026, 01:40:46 UTC
Last enriched: 06/17/2026, 08:55:30 UTC
Last updated: 07/31/2026, 19:22:59 UTC
Views: 70
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